Apparatus for determining acceleration of a machine or the like



May 7, 1940.

A. C. PETERSON APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OF A MACHINE OR THE LIKE I; Sheets-Sheet 1 lfiled July 6, 1936 INVENTOR:

n) w s 2; m m P ,0 a 4 n I m WITNESSES: m

May 7, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OF A MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I [Y VEZY TOR:

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y 1940- A. c. PETERSON 1 2199.672 APPARATUS FOR n s'rmnmmma ACCELERATION OF A Magma on THE LIKE- Filed July 6. 1936. 'a'sheets-sneet 3 y 4 A. c. PETERSON 2.199.672

'APPARATUS'FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OF A MACHINE on THE LIKE Filed July 6. 1956 a Sheets-Sheet 4 HG .Zl'Zl I N VEN TOR WITNESSES. Ic-

AMZ$ Y y 7, 1940. A. c; PETERSON 2.199.672

APPARATU FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OF A MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1936 a Sheets-Sheet 5 HG I/Z 9 5 a7 2. w I a III J16.

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IN VEN TOR:

WITNESSES: Z/ z z 4 fllbarfi C Pei/arson,

BY Mm May 7, 1940. A. c. PETERSON APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OF A MACHINE OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet '6 Filed July e, 1936 INVENTOR: flZbm t L. Paterson A TORNEYS.

Wl TNESSES: I Mia May 7, 1940.

A; c. PETERSON APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ACCELERATION OPA MACHINE 0R THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1936 a Sheets-Sheet 7 .INVENTORw fllbsrfi C Paw/r5022),

' TORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

. May 7, 1940. a, T N 2.199.672

'APPARATUS'FOR vmnnumme ACCELERATION or A mourns on THE LII-(E Fud July a, 1936 a Sheets-Sheet 8 WITNESSES: I N VEN TOR:

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, such a machine to reach full Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ACCELERA- TION OFA MACHINE OR. THE LIKE Albert 0. Peterson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 11].,

a corporation of Illinois Application July 6, 1936, Serial No. 88,984

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for determining acceleration of a machine, or the like, and is particularly useful for determining the rate of accelerationof high speed machines, and for measuring the length of time required for speed from a standing start.

While the apparatus of this invention may be applied to'many different types of machines, it hasspecial advantage when used in connection with machines which depend for efficiency upon their ability to start and reach maximum speed in the shortest possible time. For example, in the sewing machine art, many sewing operations are of relatively short length and require only a few seconds, at most, to finish. If the motor, or other means for driving a sewing machine, is not capable of bringing the machine to its maximum speed in a short space of time, there is an obvious loss of efliciency, and hence a limita tion upon the production obtainable from the machine.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a devic'e for determining the rate of acceleration and the starting interval of a high speed machine, and an equally important object is to provide measuring apparatus .of this character which is extremely sensitive and extremely accurate. The importance of sensitivity and accuracy will be appreciated when it is considered that modern high speed sewing machines are capable of accelerating from a standing start to a full speed of, say, 3700 revolutions per minute in one-tenth of a second. The device of this invention makes it possible with such-a sewing machine, or with machines of even greater acceleration, to count the number of stitches formed from the moment of standing start to the moment when the machine reaches its full speed, and additionally to measure the total elapsed time for such acceleration.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, including those derived from the use of a simple, compact, and portable measuring device, will be apparent from the description of one example or embodiment of the invention, hereinafter set forth, having reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Fig. I represents a perspective view of the ap paratus of this invention.

Fig. II represents a top plan view of the case in which certain .of the parts are carried.

Fig. III represents a cross section of the case, taken as indicated by the lines III-III of Fig. II.

Fig. IV represents an additional cross section of the case, taken along the lines indicated IVIV of Fig. II.

Fig. V represents an additional cross section, taken centrally of the case, along the lines indicated at V-V of Figs. II and III.

Fig. VI represents a cross section, taken as indicated by the lines VI-VI of Fig. II, showing details of the recording stylus, and the manner in which it is mounted on the case.

Fig. VII represents a cross section, taken as indicated by the lines VII-VII of Fig. V, showing details of the movable contacts of a time switch.

Fig. VIII represents a perspective view ofa governor for controlling 1 electric motor so that it runs at a const speed.

Fig. IX represents a sid' elevation of said speed governor.

Fig. 'X represents an enlarged detailed view, partly in section taken as indicated by the lines XX of Fig. XI, illustrating a hand piece which is applied to and driven by the machine under test.

Fig. XI represents a cross section of the hand piece, taken as indicated by the lines XIXI of Fig. X.

Fig. XII represents an additional cross section of the hand piece, taken as indicated by the lines XII-X.II of Fig. X.

Fig. XIII represents a wiring diagram showing the circuits for operating the recording device; and,

Fig. XIV represents a wiring diagram showing the circuits for controlling the operation of the driving motor.

With reference to the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises generally a traveling chart in the form of a tape I, a recording device comprehensively designated at 2, a pair of electromagnets 3a, 3b for operating the recording device, and means for energizing and de-energizing the electro-magnets 3a, 3b including a hand piece designated at 4 which is adapted to be applied to and driven by the machine under test'and which includes a switching device or commutator. The tape I is caused to travel at a constant lineal velocity by apparatus including an electric motor 5, such apparatus being housed within a case 6, and the recording device 2 is moved in different (opposite) directions at successive cycles of the machine, as described hereinafter. The parts in and on the case 6 may be collectively distinguished as the recording unit; and the mobile hand piece 4 may be flexibly connected thereto, as hereinafter described, so that it can be moved around freely for actuation by the machine.

With reference to Fig. I, it will be observed that the roll of tape I is carried by a reel 1 supported at the top of the case 6. The reel 1 may take any convenient form, but desirably comprises a pair of spaced elements which serve to hold the tape in roll form and to guide the free end as it is unreeled across the top of the case. The reel 7 is afiixed to the case 6 by means of a pair of lugs 8a, 8b (most clearly shown in Fig.

' III) which fit within sockets formed at the top of the case in such manner that the reel may be readily removed when not in use.

The tape I passes from the reel I to an elongated tape guide 9 extending beneath the recording device 2 and from thence the tape passes through a pair of rollers I8, II made of rubber or like material, one such roller, I0, being driven at a constant speed by the electric motor 5, and the other roller, II, pressing against the top of the tape I. .Thus the tape I is unreeled and drawn past the recording stylus I1 at high but uniform velocity of travel. The tape *guide 9 is shown as a channeled guideway that engages and overlaps the edges of the tape so as to control its path of travel transversely, as well as perpendicular to its surface. The top roller II is supported within a bracket I2 and normally urged by means of a spring I3 towards the bottom roller III. The roller bracket I2 is in turn pivotally mounted within an additional bracket I4 a-fllxed to the top of the case 8. By means of a handle I5 on the bracket I2, the top roller Il may be swung upwardly and rearwardly to the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. III, wherein it is out of engagement with the bottom roller I0, thus permitting ready insertion of the tape. In an obvious manner, the spring I3, when it passes the center of the pivot pin I8 by which the bracket I2 is supported within the bracket I4, will exert its force in a direction to separate the two rollers III, II. After passing through the rollers III, II, and through the bracket l4, the tape I continues in its movement beyond the edge of the case 8.

The recording device 2, as shown most clearly in Fig. VI, comprises a stylus II fitting in a 39 in the end of holder I8 and urged against the tape I by means of a spring I9. The holder I3 has a vertical post 2I pivoted at its base on a plate 22a, and pivoted at its upper end by means of an adjusting screw 23, inserted through a plate 221) and serving to regulate the freedom of movement of the post 2|. The holder I8 includes an armature 24 of magnetic material which is disposed in line with the axes of the electro-mag'nets 3a, 3b placed at either side thereof. Desirably the tape guide 9 has a circular cut-out 25 accommodating the end of the stylus I1 and allowing for its lateral movement. In an obvious manner, when the electro-rnagnet 3a is energized, the stylus I1 is drawn to one side of the tape I, and when the electro-magnet 3b is energized, the stylus IIv is drawn to the opposite side of the tape. Thus the recording device 2 serves to draw a continuous line on the tape I shifting from side to side in accordance with the frequency of operation of the electro-magnets 3a, 3b.

The electro-magnets 3a, 3b are mounted at each side of the tape I on cores 28 of magnetic material, and the cores 28 are supported by a U-shaped magnet 21 attached to the top of the case 8. The electro-magnets 3a, 3b are alternately energized at a frequency corresponding to successive revolutions of the'machine under test in the following manner. The hand piece 4, shown most clearly in Figs. I, X, XI and XII, is applied to a rotating part 28 of the machine, the acceleration of which is to be measured. In the present example, it may be assumed that the part 28 comprises the driven wheel of a sewing machine. A center point 29 engages a pin hole the shaft 3| of the sewing machine. To prevent slippage, fingers 32, preferably provided with tips 38 of cork or other nonslipping material, engage the wheel 28 at opposite points spaced from the axis of the shaft 3I. The fingers 32 are carried by an arm 34 urged by a spring 35 toward the wheel 28. The shaft 38 which carries the center point 29 is square in cross section at the region indicated at 31, and it slides freely within a similarly shaped socket in the arm 34. Thus the shaft 38 is caused to revolve at a speed corresponding exactly to that of the wheel 28.

The hand piece 4 includes a casing 39 of conducting material having a removable cover 40. Within the casing 39 there is a pinion 4| on the shaft 38 which engages a gear 42 on a stub shaft 43, the gear 42 having twice as many teeth as the pinion 4|, whereby it is driven at half the speed of the machine under test. On the stub shaft 43 there is mounted a disc 44, one-half the face of which, as designatedat 44a, is of good conducting material such as brass, and the other half of which, as designated at 44b, is of nonconducting material, such as fiber. A pair of brushes 45, spaced 180 apart, are urged towards the face of the disc 44 by springs 58, the force of these springs being rendered adjustable by set screws 51.

Within a flexible connection 58 between the hand piece 4 and the case 8, three wires 59, 80, 8| are inserted, the wires 59, 88, leading to the two brushes 45 which engage the face of the disc 44, and the third wire 8| being grounded at 5| to the cover 40 and thence in electrical contact with the conducting portion 44a of the disc 44. Suitable insulation 48 is provided within the cover 48 to prevent short circuiting between the wires 59, 80, 8|. An adjusting screw 82 is also provided in the cover 48 to insure that when the parts are assembled the pinion M will mesh properly with the gear 42. The cover 48 is afllxed to illustrating the connections between the electro-' magnets 30, 3b and the revolving disc 44 of the hand piece 4. Electric current is supplied by a battery 83, or some other suitable source. From the positive side of the battery 83 current leads through a conductor 84 to a hand switch 55 (preferably placed at the top of the case 8 as shown in Fig. I) and thence to a conductor 85 to plug 88.v From the negative side of battery 83, one branch leads through electro-mag'net 3a to the wire 88, and the other branch leads through the electromagnet 3b to the wire 59. In an obvious manner, when the wire 59 is in contact with the conducting portion 44a of the disc 44, electro-rnagnet 3b will be energized and electro-magnet 30. will be de energized. In a like manner, when the wire 88 is in contact-with the conducting portion 44a of the'disc 44,"the electro-magnet 3a will be energized, and the electro-magnet 3b de-energized. Thus the disc 44 acts as a commutator,

and causes the electro-magnets 3a, 3b to be alterthe other side of 'the tape. In other words, the

electro magnets 3a, 8b are energised in alternation, to operate the stylus n positively both ways,

r The arm I8 has fingers during each revolution or cycle of operation of the commutator or switching means 44, which corresponds to two revolutions or cycles of the machine under test. Hence the stylus I1 is moved to and fro transversely with respect to the line or path of travel of the tape I as determined by the guideway 9, in opposite directions at successive revolutions or complete cycles of operation of the machine under test, making corresponding single transverse marks on' the tape, in opposite directions I at successive revolutions. Thus the stylus I I is caused to draw a zigzag line on the tape I, with the distance between, successive transverse marks representing the time consumed for each successive revolution of the machine. Owing to the transverse control of the tape Iby the guideway 9, the longitudinal marks connecting said transverse ones are substantially straight and regular.

Theflexible connection 58 to the hand piece 4 desirably enters the case 6 through a plug 66 which has pins 61 engaging within sockets in the case 6 and making electrical "contact with wires within the case. At the top of the case 6 two terminals 68 are provided which establish connections to the battery 83. i

The mechanism for driving the tape roller I0 is most clearly shown in Fig. IV. One end of the driving shaft of the motor 5 has thereon 2.

pinion I0 which engages a gear 'II on a shaft I2 extending horizontally beneath the top of the case 6 and having its ends supported in suitable bearings. -The tape driving roller I0 is mounted on the shaft I2.

The other end of the shaft of the motor 5 carries a speed governingde-vice comprehensively designated at I3. This device is shown in detail in Figs. V111 and IX. It comprises a rotary member I4 having a perforated hub I5 through which a tension spring 16 is inserted. The spring I6 connects together two pivoted arms 11, I8. The pivoted arms I1, I8 act in the manner of fly weights. As the speed .of the motor 5 increases. the resistance of the spring I8 is gradually overcome and the arms 11, I8 tend to spread apart. 19 which loosely engage a disc on the rear side of a movable contact member 8|. The movable contact member 8| is pivoted to a fixed contact member 82. Normally the parts occupy the position shown in Figs. IV and VIII, with the electrical contacts 83, 84 engaging each other. If the motor speed increases beyond a. predetermined normal speed, the pivoted arms 11, I8 separate in the manner shown in Fig. IX, causingdisengagement of the electrical contacts 83, 84. The contact member BI is under the influence of a spring 85connected at the end of a pivoted bracket 86, the force of the spring being adjustable by means of an adjusting screw 81. Two wires 88, 89 enter the case 6 at ajpoint near the governor I3. One such wire 89 leads to a pin 90 surrounded by fiber bushing 9|. The other wire 88 is electrically connected to the fixed contact 83, through a conducting member 92. The pin 90 is electrically connected to the movable contact 84 through the stationary part 93 and the movable contact member 8|. It will be apparent that the fixed contact 83 and movable contact 84 are separated whenever the motor speed exceeds a predetermined value.

The separation of the contacts 83, 84, effected by the action of the governor I3, varies the resistance in the field of the motor 5 in the 01- lowing manner. As represented in the wiring diagram of Fig. XIV, current from "an outside source enters the plug 94' through a wire 95 and passes through an automatically opening starting and time switch 96 hereinafter described. Thence the current passes through the wire 91 and divides, one branch leading to-a resistance unit 98 and the other leading to a series of resistance units comprehensively designated at 99. From the resistance unit 98, the wire 89 leads to the movable contact 84 of the governor I3 as hereinbefore described. From the fixed contact 83 the wire 88 leads to the opposite side of the resistance units 99 and joins a wire I00 leading to the field winding ml of the motor 5. A re turn wire I02 leads from the motor 5 to the plug 94. In an obvious manner, whenever the governor switch is actuated to separate contacts 83,

device comprehensively designated at I03 (see Figs. III and V) and-serves to limit the time of operation of the motor 5 so that it will not waste tape. Inasmuch as the tape I is drawn from the reel 1 at a very rapid rate, say, twenty feet per minute, if the motor 5 is left running for a period longer than that required to obtain the desired record on the tape, the tape will soon be Wasted. The timing device I03 is operated by means of a handle I 04 projecting through the side of the case 6. The handle I04 is fixed to a shaft I05, and beyond this shaft it carries a counterweight I06. With rotation or the shaft I05, a gear 11 rotates. The gear I01 drives a pinion I08 which in turn drives an additional gear I09. An oscillating anchor pallet IIO engages teeth in the gear I09, the pallet IIO. being connected through an arm III to a weight II2. In a manner similar to the actionof escapements of clocks, the pallet II 0 oscillates under the influence of the Weight I I2 and allows intermittent movement of the gear I09, one tooth at a time. To start the timing device in operation, the handle I04 is pressed downwardly to its limit of travel. As soon as released, the handle I04 will gradually move upwardly, step by step in accordance with the action of the escapement, until eventually the inner end I I 3 will strike a pivoted plate I I4 of the cut out switch 96.

The cut out switch is shown most clearly in Figs. V and VII. It includes a pair of fixed contacts II5, a pair of movable contacts IIS. supported on the movable plate H4, and a post III upon which the plate 4 is fulcrumed. A spring II8 normally urges the movable contacts II6 into engagement with the fixed contacts II5. An additional spring II 9 serves to balance the parts. When the end 3 of the timing switch handle I 04 strikes the movable plate I I4, the contacts II6 areseparated from the contacts II5 against the action of the spring I I8. A post I20 limits the upward movement of the movable plate II4.

Conveniently the wires I02 and 95 pass through a flexible connection I 2| to the plug 94 which leads to a source of electrical energy. Such flexible connections are also employed between the case 6 and the hand piece 4, and between the terminal 68 at the top of the case and the battery 63. In this manner the case 6 and all its accessories are rendered portable. The case can be carried with ease to the machine under test. Moreover, inasmuch as the tape bracket 1 is removable, all of the exterior accessories can be assembled into a compact mass and housed within a lid (not shown) and the entire apparatus can be moved from place to place without danger of injury tothe parts.

In the foregoing description the, manner in which the tape I is unreeled at a constant lineal velocity has been fully explained. It has also been explained that the recording device 2 is shifted laterally from side to side at a frequency corresponding to successive revolutions of the machine under test. To illustrate. how the continuous line in drawn on the tape I by the stylus ll measures the acceleration of the machine, the various shifts in the line have been su cessively designated at A to H, inclusive, and

a ypical operation of the device takes place in the following manner.

When it is desired to operate the device, the motor circuit is connected to a source of electrical power by means of the plug 84, but the motor will not run until the timing switch at the side of the case 6 is pressed down. The recording device is placed in readiness for operation by closing the hand switch 55 at the top of the case 6. Then the hand piece 4 is pressed against the machine to be tested. Finally the motor 5 of the accelerometer is started by pressing the handle I04 of the timing switch all the way down, and simultaneously the motor 01' the machine to be tested is set in motion. Upon the assumption that the machine to be tested is a sewing machine, the stylus II will shift from one side of the...tape to the other with every stitch or revolution of the machine. As soon as the distance represented on the tape between shifts becomes uniform, it will be apparent that the machine is operating at its top speed. Moreover, the length of linedrawn between two successive shifts will indicate the speed at which the machine operates for any particular stitch,

' and the distance from the first shift of the stylus until the point of maximum speed is reached (when all shifts are equi-distant) indicates the' time required for the machine to reach top speed.

A typical example of the operation of a sewing machine, as determined by the device of this invention, is represented in the following table:

Indlcai ed Time in Stitch From To Distance R P. M seconds B c m" 780 .on

n a m," 1110 .054

E F w 1150 .052

r o ms .040

a n n," 1500 .040

. Tot-a1 fi fiz 443 The maximum speed of the under test, being fifteen hundred revolutions per minute, as shown in the above table, this speed was attained at the end of seven stitches on revolutions. The interval of .443 second from the moment of standing start to the moment at which full speed was attained is gained by totalling the time" column. The rate of accelparent from inspection of the time" column. It will be noted that the first stitch or, revolution required approximately one-tenth of a second, whereas the seventh stitch or revolution required approximately iour-hundredths of a second.

In order that the results appearing on the measuring tape may be reduced to a chart. it is convenient to employ two scales which can be placed on the inside of the lid (not shown) covering the case 5, one of these scales representing .tirneiJin seconds, and the othenmepresenting indicated revolutions per minute." "By placing the tape l on one such scale and then on the other, and measuring the distances between the points of shift -A-'-B, B-C, etc., a chart showing the operation of the machine can be quickly prepared.

The accelerometer of this invention may be used to advantage in selecting the proper type of motor to drive a particular type of sewing machine, and in detecting inefiiclencies of operation, such as those which occur from a loose belt, or the use of a motor of unnecessarily large horse power rating.

While the device of this invention has been described with reference to its use in determining the acceleration and starting interval of a sewing machine, it will of course be apparent that the device has many other applications and can be applied to many types of high speed machines. Furthermore, while one example or embodiment of the invention has been described herein in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus herein described and illustrated may be varied considerably without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Furthermore, I desire it to be understood that in using the term "revolution" or cycle" herein, as applied to the machine under test, I mean to include a. cycle of operation, irrespective of the type of mechanical movement involved,

. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for determining acceleration of a machine, the combination with means for moving a travelling chart at a uniform rate, and a recording device for marking said chart movable in diiferent directions relative to the chart. transversely 01 its movement as aforesaid, of means actuated by the machine under test for moving said recording device in one direction for one revolution or complete cycle of operation moving a travelling chart at a uniform rate,

and a recording device for marking said chart movable in different directions relative to the chart, transversely of its movement, of separate electromotive devices for moving said recording I device in the different directions'as aforesaid, and means actuated by the machine under test to energize the said electromotive devices in 111- ternation at the successive revolutions or complete cycles of operation of said machine, so that each single mark in a given direction made on a commutator for energizing said electromagnetic means for operation both ways at each cycle of operation of the commutator, and means for driving said commutator from the machine under test at reduced speed so that each single transverse mark on the chart by said device corresponds to a complete cycle of operation of said machine, and the distance between successive transverse marks represents the time of a complete cycle.

- ALBERT C. PETERSON. 

